thewaiting

I hope everyone here has been doing well, as nerve-racking as the last few months have been. Personally, I feel very drained by the pandemic application process (and the pandemic in general!). The mental and emotional labor that goes into applying to doctoral programs under these circumstances, and even under normal circumstances, is a lot - maybe even too much. That being said, I'm really grateful for the support of this community and hopeful that I'll be able to read your work and see you at conferences in the not-so-distant future.

Accepted to the MA program at UVA. Was wrestling between this or the PhD program at Marquette but finally decided that I'll be heading to UVA to work with the faculty that I'm more inclined to study with and re-apply once I complete this new degree. Love you guys !
 

Thank you! It's definitely up there but I'm waiting to hear back from Chicago and will probably make my final decision based on how conversations with grad students feel. But I looooove the academics and faculty at Harvard and Cambridge is a very convenient location for me!

I only applied to one PhD program this cycle so I realize I am an anomaly on this thread. I did this for two reasons:
1. The programs whose faculty I was interested in (such as Columbia and Brown) were not accepting. I saw no reason to apply places where faculty did not fit into my interests because I wouldn't even know what to say on my SOP. I did a lot of research and even consulted my advisors and although they warned me not to put my eggs in one basket, I knew the risk I was taking from day one.
2. I am trying to keep my options open in life. Of course my attention is completely on the app right now because it's admissions seasons, and I would love to start a PhD this year, but I am open to waiting it out some more.
As a result, if I do not get into CSR I will not be starting a PhD this fall. Not trying to imply that age is a determining factor of success or opportunities in any way, because I strongly disagree with that, but I am very young and have a few career options ahead of me if I choose to reapply in the future. The funny thing is that I felt more like an outsider as the youngest student in my program!
Anyway, I am so extremely excited for everyone who has gotten at least one offer and is continuing to get more. It feels like this thread has existed for years instead of months, and the kindness and inspirational anecdotes have really helped my mental health throughout this gruesome process. Nonetheless, I hope to read your groundbreaking work one day in your respective fields!
Edit: I chose the worst year in history to take a risk and apply to one program lmao

sigh

Congrats on your admissions! Curious about Belgium – I've heard international funding tends to be limited. Would you have to come up with your own funding/scholarships, or do you think they'll offer you anything? 

What's your fave of these options? Great to have choices!

The Faculty of Theology at KU Leuven has a financial assistance program for those in its Research Master’s program which, if I’m approved for it, covers basic living costs and the otherwise minimal tuition. I agree that it is pretty limited, which is why I’m seeking additional support from other individuals or institutions. This will be true not only of Leuven, though; the two other institutions I’ve either been accepted or waitlisted for will require such funding. 
So far, i haven’t really made up my mind yet, but I am attracted by the prospect of living and studying in Toronto. Belgium comes very close to that, which is why I’m weighing these options very carefully. I still haven’t heard from Boston College yet, and there’s still Drew, which is why I really don’t have a clear choice right now. 
Incidentally, it’s made more complicated by Toronto requiring that I respond by March 26. I do wish that the Association of Theological Schools, of which I understand they’re a part, gently exhorted them to align their deadlines with everyone else, but that’s just me.

I just received an offer of admission from the Toronto School of Theology. Financial aid information is forthcoming.
Out of six applications, this means I got into two (Toronto and KU Leuven in Belgium) and was waitlisted in one (Drew).

This may be common sense / a common practice, but I like to download my application proofs whenever I apply to grad programs and save it to a drive folder before the portal locks me out. This really helps me think about room for improvement especially if I decide to reapply again. It also serves as a reference point in advising future applicants if accepted!

I feel that. This is my fourth application cycle, and I’ve learned a lot along the way, and added a second masters in the mean time too. I finally have my first fully funded (and stipend) acceptance this year.
 
I got an acceptance with only 25% funding in year 2 and balked. Two waitlists in year 3. I’ve been on grad cafe but mostly as a lurker, and I can confirm that this is a place of expectation and sorrow. Less triumph than relief. And so, where we could be competitive, it feels more honest to be in solidarity. Even in acceptance I feel a bit of grief that isn’t easily dismissed, a specter of fear and rejection haunting me, haunting us. 
 
So I suppose I want to say something like, learning and grieving on the grad cafe was essential to my journey. In year 1, I lurked because I viewed it as competition. But here after many years of tweaks, of rethinking my path, of fighting and pushing to find my voice beyond what I was capable of in year 1- it’s not about competition but slow growth and grinding through cycles of doubt in creative ways. Maybe I’m just becoming a constructive Whiteheadian. Though that might also be one of my mentor’s fault. 
 
oh, and yes, I got my BC THEO reject today...

Lol bystander anxiety. Someone should research that. Here's hoping! I am really hoping for Virginia over Chicago because I don't think I can handle the cold...like, truly. (ok, any acceptance would be spectacular).

I am also a bystander whose patience has been taxed as my partner has gone through this whole process
This could've been a great chance for some actual transparency to come to the process, but alas. 
One acceptance and one interview for her is a measure of vindication that she belongs in the process, which is a conversation I imagine lots of groups of people have to work through with how academia is. 
I've also noticed how lovely and positive the people here have been, and it's a joy to know many kind and caring people set out down this path. 

At this point I'm refreshing the results page to finally find out that they sent out acceptances... and I didn't get one. Agh lol

GOT REJECTED FROM BC HELL YEA LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Lol bystander anxiety. Someone should research that. Here's hoping! I am really hoping for Virginia over Chicago because I don't think I can handle the cold...like, truly. (ok, any acceptance would be spectacular).

Lol bystander anxiety. Someone should research that. Here's hoping! I am really hoping for Virginia over Chicago because I don't think I can handle the cold...like, truly. (ok, any acceptance would be spectacular).

ahaha ok so you understand the bystander anxiety!! hoping for the best  I honestly can't imagine only 2-3 spots but then again, I couldn't imagine anything of the last 12 months so...

Ughhh such a crazy year! Appreciate your reply; just looked at your history – I'm also a s/o of an applicant. Ethics. I'm just hoping that it's more than 2 or 3 slots (because that just feels almost impossible, sigh). Good luck to you as well!!

I don't know how many spots in the div school only that NELC wasn't accepting any applicants so I expect that makes it even *more* competitive. Also same as other schools, limited funding because of COVID etc. Interview requests have gone out. What's your field? And best of luck!!!

I'm waiting on BC too (ethics), I've received interviews for BU and Marquette but aside from that its been complete guessing and waiting which sucks

I received this email yesterday from Villanova's Ph.D.
"We have now completed phase one of this year’s admissions cycle and I am pleased to inform you that you are among this year’s semi-finalists for admission with funding. Congratulations!"
Has anyone here been through the interview process at VU? Also, I am unsure if this means I am interviewing for the sake of funding and will receive an offer regardless of the funding package (I have gathered that they admit students without funding). 

Anyone with experience/knowledge of Villanova, please let me know. Thanks

I am expecting results from Drew and BC anytime soon. My POI at the former school said that he was expecting results to be released as soon as possible, if they haven’t already, and expressed the hope that I would join them there.
I am not too confident about that, but we’ll see.

Wow- congratulations!!!! 
 
You know you're on gradcafe too much when you get banned from liking too many posts in one day LOL. Yeah, makes sense!! Thanks and likewise  
 
I 10000000% agree. CSR, for example, says on their website that the admissions is very competitive -- 5-7% on their website. But 5% of, say, 200 is still 10 people. In terms of PhD applicants, that's still more than 1-2. 
I know academia is heavily flawed and elite institutions have their baggage, but this doesn't feel right at all. It feels too much like a business model lol 

OK, had no idea NELC was taking that amount of applicants.

I actually think it's possibly unethical for schools to omit that info (they are taking TWO applicants) when you apply. Honestly, why not put that info somewhere on the site? I get that they look better when they have lots of applicants and a low admit ratio, but geez app fees are expensive. 

 
 
Congrats!!